Tina Gayle's Blog, page 61

Hopping Buddy - Zoe Dawson

As you all know from my prior post last weekend, I'm doing the NOR Halloween Blog Hop.

I wanted to introduce you to one of my fellow Blog hoppers -- Zoe Dawson.
 
  

Blurb:
 
I’ll get you and your little dogs, too!

Veterinarian Poe Madigan enters The Fur Ball with her Jack Russell terriers (aka The Terrible Two) to compete for a substantial cash prize that will keep her mother from losing her home. But when her fabulous partner sprains his ankle, Poe must trade him and his talented Bichon for a sexy, muscle-bound hunk who can't dance and his basset hound, Lazy Daisy. If that's not enough to make her despair, it seems The Terrible Two have angered someone and they're receiving death threats!

Security specialist Jared Taylor promises one of Poe's friends that he will go undercover as her dog dancing partner to protect her from danger. He didn't expect to have his staid, traditional life turned all topsy-turvy and he would find a soft spot for a neglected hound and fall for a Goth princess. But when he reveals who he really is and why he is in Poe’s life will it destroy the foundation of trust they’ve built? Could he lose the real prize - Poe?
 
 Excerpt from HoundedBook #3Going to the DogsBy Zoe DawsonAll rights reserved Chapter OnePain exploded through Poe Madigan’s right cheek and eye. She slammed into the concrete wall, crying out when her shoulder hit with more vibrating agony, everything fragmenting into multi-colored pieces with layers of disconnection and disorientation. Shock coursed through her in a surreal I-feel-like-I’m-watching-from-a-distance way as she crumpled face down.What the hell…?A man. Above her. Masked? Had he punched her in the face? Where had he come from?Edgar, the larger of her two Jack Russells, went crazy. He leapt at the man’s face and latched onto the mask concealing her attacker’s identity, the weight of the small dog dragging at the man’s torso. Allan’s ferocious barking peppered with mixed growls indicated he’d joined the fray. The signal to Poe’s brain to get up and fight short-circuited. Dazed and immobile from the blow, she could only watch helplessly.A muzzy thought drifted along the edges of her awareness. Could this have something to do with that awful note someone had shoved under her door?The man swung his arm and dislodged Edgar. Her dog cried out with a sharp yelp, and she tried again to get up. Edgar was hurt. She needed to help him. The man put his foot into the middle of her back and trapped her against the dirty pavement. He yanked at her purse, which was fortunately partially jammed underneath her. No way! He couldn’t have her too-cool zombie bag. Much too trendy for this lowlife scum. As he reached for the straps and tried to jerk her off the purse, Allan snapped at his hand, slashing it with his teeth.Her attacker backed off, cursing and swatting at Allan, but the dog was too quick. Allan went for the man’s pant legs, shredding the fabric with his sharp little teeth while Edgar launched himself at him again. Someone shouted, but Poe couldn’t make out the words over the ringing in her ears. The sounds of her dogs attacking receded. Then someone touched her, making her flinch—no, wait, this was a helping touch, trying to find out if she was okay. She finally let go and drifted toward sooty blackness.She jerked awake. One of the EMTs was talking to her in low, soothing tones as they loaded her into an ambulance, the glare of the blue revolving light making her head hurt. She thought she’d answered his questions, and he seemed satisfied.  Suddenly her throat closed up and lucidity rushed at her, tightening her chest. Where were her boys?“Wait,” she cried out, trying to rise, but the doors closed with finality. 

Buy Links:
 
Amazon
Nook
Kobo
Smashwords
itunes 
 
 
Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery, new adult, urban fantasy and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

#AuthorQuote by Karalee Long

Karalee's Favorite Quote -"Never, never, never give up."  Winston Churchill.


  BLURB:
Allie Blair, a divorced marriage counselor accused of murdering her ex-husband, tries to prove her innocence but unwittingly accepts the help of the one man who wants to prove her guilt.
Greg Weston, a Denver homicide detective, vows to bring his cousin's accused murderer, Allie Blair, to justice.  To win her trust, he signs up for a class she's teaching, "What Women Want."
When Allie becomes a target of the actual killer, her sizzling chemistry with Greg ignites passion too hot to ignore.  But Greg knows even if they survive, he'll lose Allie when she learns he's a cop.
BUY LINKS: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_19?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=love+and+murder+in+red+satin&sprefix=Love+and+Murder+In+%2Cstripbooks%2C202http://www.barnesandnoble.com
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveandmurderinredsatin-1222990-149.html
Also to learn more about Karalee
check out her other social sites
https://www.karaleelong.comhttps://www.facebook.com/karaleelong
https://www.twitter.com/KaraleeLong 

Need Some Writing Tips - A Helpful Site

I'm always looking for writing tips and thought this site might be helpful to new writers.

She listed a number of tips.



1. Put the editor on hold.
2. Read your work out loud.
3. Use strong verbs.
4. Use structure.
5. Use strong verbs and nouns.
6. Be wary of adverbs and adjectives.
7. Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
8. Work the details.
9. Cut, cut, cut
10. Use active voice

For more explanation for each item on the list and to see more tips visit her site at

http://www.writershelper.com/writingtips.html

Hope this helps you.

Have an awesome day,

Tina

#AuthorQuote New Segment on My Blog @authortinagayle

"Some losses never heal you just slowly learn to carry the burden and shed a tear every now and then for the one you lost."

by Tina Gayle

In an effort to help spread the word about all the incredible writers out there. I decided to start a new Segment on my blog. So for now or until the end of the year, I'm doing Author Quotes on Tuesday and Thursday.

If this takes off, I'll continue doing it. If not, then I'll try something else. Though it might take a new form during the egg-crept exchange event I do during lent.

The above quote doesn't appear in any of my books so far, but the Executive Wives' Club series deals with the grief process and having lost my father during the writing of the series. I developed the quote for myself to understand how you never really get over the lost of some people in your life.

  Blurb - Jennifer Larson, having lost her husband, friends and the perfect life she’d had plan, now faces the biggest challenge of her life, moving into an unplanned future. While the rest of the Executives Wives' Club is still wallowing in the past, Jen is tempted into the future by a sexy chiropractor, Hagan Chaney.

But does he really love her or her money?   
Read First Chapter of "Marketing Exec's Widow" and Reviews

Purchase ebook at:
www.smashwords.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.kobobooks.com
itunes.apple.com
At Amazon If you would like to join the fun and have me post a quote of yours along with your book, contact me at tina9561@yahoo.com Have an awesome day, Tina 

Have Fun and Win Prizes on Halloween Scavenger Hunt

It's that time of year when the ghosts and spirits come out to play.

So I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell everyone about my contemporary paranormal story "Summer's Growth."


The answer to question for my book is in the blurb below.


In this book, I have a whole family of spirits and one very special ghost.

Blurb -

Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?


Read First Chapter of "Summer's Growth"
Purchase ebook at:

www.smashwords.com www.amazon.com www.BN.com
www.kobo.com
www.itunes.apple.com Have fun on this Scavenger Hunt, Tina Gayle

Author's Poignant Saying/Quote - Do You Have One?

I'm starting a new segment on my blog call Author's Quote.

I wanted a fun way for other authors to share their inspiration for writing, life, etc.

So here's how it goes.

Send me a quote.

Something like

I'd like to get away from the earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin again.

-- Robert Frost

Or

Shared joy is double joy,
and shared sorrow is half-sorrow.

-- Swedish proverb


Only make it a quote you wrote either from your book or one you wrote to inspire yourself.

Alone with the quote. I will display one of your book - cover, blurb, buy link and your personal links as well.

If interested in being apart of the fun. Email me - with several dates on either Tuesday or Thursday, I'll schedule you a date and contact you with all the information you need to send me.
 You can send me everything before hand or I'll send you a reminder when we get closer to the date. Your choice - I'll also post the list of guests for each month on the side bar of my blog once I have a few people sign up so make sure to send me you website so I can link to it.
If interested email me at tina9561@yahoo.com


I look forward to hearing from you,

Tina

Twitter, Tweets, RTs, Oh, My by @authortinagayle

[image error] Okay, you have a twitter account and you want to promote your book.

But first you have to have some followers.

Should be easy right?

Just ask people and they follow you. No problem only not everyone will follow you.

The biggest offenders of this are well know authors, actors, famous people, etc.

Don't bother with these people unless you are a fan or at least not until you've gone over the 2000 follower limit that Twitter puts on all new members.

Questions to know the answer to -

1. Who should I follow?
Other author in the same genre as you're in.Readers - search for words like readers, romance, mystery, Look to see who your followers are following.
2. How do I know who is not following me?

Best to use a software add on app like http://www.justunfollow.com/  http://manageflitter.com/I use both. Just unfollow - is great for adding a return message for people who follow you. In the message make sure to mention your website, blog or FB page.

Manage Flitter - is good because it allows you to unfollow more than 50 people at a time.

3. What should I twit about

Likes, dislikes, your book, your life, (personally I stay away from Politics but do what you feel works for you.)Try for at least several tweets a day. (Marketers suggest one every hour)4. How can I tweet so much?
Again use an add on app like Hootsuites...https://hootsuite.com/ It can be used for multiply social media sites like Facebook, twitter, Linkin, etc.All of the add on apps mention are free. You can upgrade if you like but it is not necessary.

Now, the next thing to know is the about # hash tags.

A hash tag adds your twit to a listing that some people check daily, weekly, whenever.

5. Are hash tags useful?
They can be if not over used. Try to limit them to three or four. I found them most useful for retweet the same message but in a different way.Example - you want to say something like Like my fb page http://on.fb.me/RIJ1gI and send me yours. #authors, #fbfriendsTwitter will only let you tweet the same message every 24 hours so to change it up adding different hash marks can let you twit the same base message multiply times.6. Why would I want to Retweet anyone else?Mainly, because if you want people to RT you. You have to Tweet them. As a thank you for being your followerto help a friend.interest item your followers might enjoy7. Can I RT others and still promote me?Yes, a number of people RT people's information by placing the other's person information in their tweet box. This puts your picture on the Tweet but it has someone else's information.To me this is a double edge sword. Yes - you are getting your picture out there, but you are promoting someone else.  The above items are just a few things you might need to know about twitter. Feel free to leave a comment or ask any other question you might have about twitter. Can't say I have the answer, but I can try to direct you in the right direction.Have a great week, Tina 

Final Day, Final Hours to Download CFO's Affair for #Free

Now, is the time to do the deed and download my book.

http://bit.ly/CFOaffair

Want to read the teaser for
Dilemma of the CEO’s Widow (coming out in 2014)

“Hey, Mom, how was the party for Vince and Sylvia?” Travis hugged his mother and stepped into the house. “Sorry I couldn’t make it. I’m busy at work on a new case that needs some extra attention.”
Marianne watched him stroll into the living room, his tall good looks reminding her so much of the man who’d captured her heart so many years ago. Jack Clark had been her world. She didn’t believe she’d ever love anyone like that again. Nor did she want to. The cost of losing him required a price she refused to pay.
Not liking the direction of her thoughts, she closed the door and turned.
Travis sank into his father’s favorite recliner with a low sigh of pleasure.
Not certain of the attraction, she contemplated getting rid of the chair. No, her boys rebelled each time she suggested it.
Why? Did they see the worn-out recliner as a reminder of their dad?
“Did everyone else show up?” Travis settled deeper into the lumpy cushions and kicked up the foot rest.
“Yes, the whole gang was there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a good time. With each of them happily married, they’re now looking at me as if they expect me to head to the altar next.” Marianne recalled the covert glances between the other executive wives. They were excited about their new lives and wanted her to share in their joy.
She did, but that didn’t mean she wanted to travel the same path. With numerous activities in her life, she didn’t need a man.
“I bet Knox was willing to throw himself under the bus and do the deed with you.” Travis’ teasing tone played against Marianne’s already frazzled nerves.
“Not yet, he’s more concern with what is going on between you and his daughter.” She locked gazes with her son and studied his reaction to the question.
“Oh, right. Now, that she’s working in the same building as I am, we’re carrying on a nefarious affair.” Travis shook his head and waved her into the chair next to him.
“Please tell me it’s not true. The girl is ten years younger than you are.” Marianne sank into the rocker beside her son, convinced she’d never persuade Knox to just let it be. He’d want to charge in and rescue his daughter. He wouldn’t be able to see that Lyndsey only wanted to have a little fun and then move onto someone else.
Marianne leaned back and guided the rocker into motion. Did she have any hope of persuading Knox to listen? If he didn’t, he just might lose his daughter.
“She’s over twenty-one.” Travis continued, “And from what I hear she’s now living on her own.”
“Look, there’s too many years between the two of you. You can’t have anything in common,” she argued, knowing as she said the words, her son wouldn’t listen. Still, she had to try for Knox’s peace of mind.
“Is that why you won’t marry Knox? Are you’re worried he’s too young for you?” Travis leaned forward and the foot rest slid into place under his chair.
Anger shot through Marianne at her son’s attempt to shift the conversation to her instead of answering her questions about his involvement with Lyndsey. She knotted her hands into fists and glared at him. “At our age it doesn’t matter as much.”
“Right, because you guys are already over the hill.” The smirk on her son’s face reminded her so much of his father. A flash of grief pierced through her chest. She lowered her gaze and fought to draw in a breath. So many times Jack had used the same wicked grin when he believed he had the upper hand in an argument.
“No. Knox is still young enough to remarry and have another family. I, on the other hand, have one smart ass son who won’t behave.” She turned and glared at him, distinguishing him as the one she was referring too.
With a small groan, she continued, “And I have another one who has several children. As a grandmother, I have no business getting involved with a younger man.”
“Oh, please, are you hearing what you’re saying?” Travis stared at her and then his face fell. “Damn, you do believe that dribble, don’t you?”
“I won’t disgrace my family by running after a man half my age.” Marianne stiffened in her seat and fought the desire to do the exact opposite. Knox in so many ways offered her a second chance. They shared interests she hadn’t enjoyed with Jack.
“Mom, are you crazy? The man is no more than ten years younger than you are.” Travis dropped out of his chair onto his knees and clasped her hands in his. “You have a right to enjoy the rest of your life with someone who loves you. If Knox wants you as his wife, why say no?”
Tears blurred her vision and emotions clogged her throat. Unable to speak, she shook her head and swallowed several times. How could she explain?
Knox was a good man, fun, carefree, loving, someone she like spending time with...his touch, kisses, heated glances caused desire to bloom. Then as quickly as her blood heated, it cooled when her mind shifted to thoughts of Jack. A heavy cloak of guilt fell over her shoulders. She fought not to crumble under the weight and straightened. “I can’t do that to your father. I’m his wife. I can’t turn my commitment off to him just because he’s not here with me anymore.”
“Oh, Mom, don’t you think he’d want you to be happy?” Travis stared into her face, his eyes drilling into her with the same intensity as Jack’s had.
“I’m, uh, not sure I can give Knox everything he deserves.” Visions of making love to Knox flashed in her head and her cheeks burned. Embarrassed, she tugged her hands free. “This is not a subject I should be talking to you about.”
“Why? You have no problem butting into my love life.” He caressed a hand across her cheek, wiping her tears from her face.
She batted away his caress. “Then you don’t mind telling me what’s going on between you and Lyndsey?”
He smiled. “I’ll tell if you will.”
Staring at her son, Marianne fought the emotions building in her chest. Her children had always consumed her world, their happiness paramount to her own. “Do you really care that much about Lyndsey?”
“Yes. I enjoy spending time with her, just like you adore time with Knox.” He rocked onto his heels and rose to his feet. Stepping away from his chair, he paced across the room.
After a moment, he turned. “Am I thinking about getting serious? I can’t say, but I’m not opposed to the idea either. I plan to take it one day at a time and see what develops.”
He paced back to her. “Can’t you do the same? Knox deserves a chance. In fact, so do you.”
Disgusted with herself for overreacting, she pushed to her feet. “We still meet for coffee every Saturday morning. So I guess for now, you can say we’re still reviewing our options.”
Her son grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Good, then we’ll both see where this leads us. If it’s to a little white chapel, fine. If not, then we still have each other.”
“Oh, man, can you imagine if Knox was both your step-father and your-father-in-law?” Marianne considered the opposite scenario of Lyndsey being her...chills went down Marianne’s spine.
Damn, could life get any more complicated?
 
Thanks everyone for all your help in sharing the news of my free read and for downloading my book.

I have to say you guys are the best,

Tina

Only Two Days Left to Get @authorTinaGayle #Free Read

A busy week for me with my birthday and a free read. I hope you have taken a moment to download my book.
 Next week will be much calm with life getting back to normal. But then what is normal? The last book in the series should be coming out in the Spring of 2014. Amazing how far out things are scheduled in the Publishing world. Have a wonder weekend and if you need something to read... Do I sound like a broken record? Oh, well here is a new excerpt and the buy link   Vince shifted his stance and pinned her against the counter, his hands falling to her waist. “I see now. I'm the one who should be afraid.” Sylvia pressed her hands against his chest and stared into his face. His dark brown eyes held a twinkle, not of amusement, closer maybe to desire. “You know that is so not true.”          “Do I?” He edged forward, his legs framing hers. The heat radiating from him ignited her nerve endings from her head to her toes. Need seeped from her core. Singed by the contact, she reminded herself that even though he didn’t possess the Casanova traits of a true Latin lover, he still had the alluring magnetism of one. “You're one sexy lady. If you chose to turn on the charm, I'm sure you'd have me under your spell in less than a black-eyed minute.” The strong beat of his heart played against her palms and she struggled to think. His words didn't make any sense. “Vince, I have a daughter in college.” “Yes, and she's not at home.” He leaned in and whispered, “Do you invite men over and have your way with them?” Sylvia’s knees wobbled and she forced out, “No, I...” He dropped butterfly kisses on her jaw. “You prefer instead to tempt...” His lips caressed her neck, “and tease...” He nibbled on her ear, “until they beg.” Sliding her hands to his shoulders, she fought the hunger building inside. How long had it been since she’d felt compelled to diving into a man and taking what she wanted? “Vince, you need to stop.”  “Sweetheart, I wish I could.” He pulled back, his hot gaze meeting hers briefly before he covered her lips with his. The shock of a man kissing her should have jumped started her muscles into fighting for freedom. Instead, the soft touch of his mouth melted her resistance and she marveled at the tender caress. Again, he used light strokes, and the tip of his tongue played against the seam of her lips, begging for entrance. She couldn't hold back, not when it felt so good and opened to his questing advance. He explored every crevice, finding insanely sensitive areas she didn't even know existed. Each caress of his tongue elicited a reaction, a moan, a movement of her hands into his hair, a tilt of her head. He seemed to feed on each and dove even deeper. The firm stroke of his tongue had her whimpering and he drew her into his chest. His body tight against hers, he rocked his hips. The hard line of his erection hit her abdomen and more liquid heat seeped from her core. A sudden urgency for air broke through the sensual haze she'd fallen into and she broke free from his lips. Vince transferred his kisses to her jaw, over her cheek and paused near her ear to nibble. Gasping for air, Sylvia fought to remember where she was, how she got here and then why had she let things go so far. She shifted back a mere millimeter, yet he seemed to notice her withdrawal and drew her back. “Vince, I...” He smiled and smoothed his hands over her back. “Don't tell me you didn't enjoy kissing me because I'll never believe it.” Her gaze automatically fell to his lips. How could simply staring at his face give her so much pleasure? Turn her inside out?   Buy Link is http://bit.ly/CFOaffair Have a great weekend, Tina  

It's My Birthday and I'm Celebrating

  Hi everyone, Today really is my birthday and to celebrate I arranged to have my book CFO's Affair FREEat Amazon. Here is the link http://bit.ly/CFOaffair so if you struggling for something to get me. Download my book and help me reach the best seller list.(A dream for every author)Every download counts. 

Blurb -
 
Sylvia Donovan is emotionally wounded from the unexpected death of her husband and still haunted by their last conversation: his request for a divorce and his confession of love for another woman.  Her husband gone, her only daughter off to college, Sylvia faces the challenges of learning to live alone and move on with her life.
Vince Wilshire, enchanted with Sylvia, is more than willing to do what it takes to capture the heart of the hurting and untrusting Sylvia.
Can he help her forget the past and make her believe in love again?
 
Excerpt
The door clicked open.
Wrapping his hand around the handle to keep from reaching for her, Vince Wilshire shoved the door wide. "Are you ready for this?"
Her face mere inches from his, he noticed a brief flash of panic in her eyes before Sylvia Donovan lifted her chin and stepped through the entrance. "Nothing I haven't seen before. Or probably won't see again."
He understood she meant the task of doing a job, but for some reason his brain registered the sexual implications of the comment. "Oh, man, you're brutal. Some things you know get better with age.”
Matching his steps to hers, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in close. He whispered beside her ear, "It's all a matter of knowing how to use what you've got."
She shrugged and shifted away from him, eyeing him with a raised brow. "Yes and some people are amateurs, Mr. Wilshire. You, I take it, are an old pro who knows how to wield your sword with the best of them."
Laughter bubbled up into his throat. He marveled at her sassy tone and didn't relinquish his grip. "I must admit I’m very good at a few chosen tasks."
 
Buy Link http://bit.ly/CFOaffair Thanks for making it a great day for me,Tina